The Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), the regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning, and the Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU), India, recently organised a capacity-building event aimed at both familiarising and equipping approximately 50 educators with the skills to integrate blended learning into their daily practices.

Professor Indrajit Lahiri, the Vice Chancellor of NSOU, set the tone in his opening address that reflected on the seismic shifts in education delivery brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. He underscored the critical role of blended learning as a mainstay in the sector, highlighting the necessity for educators to adapt to a world where technology and online platforms are integral to teaching.

Dr B. Shadrach, Director of CEMCA, emphasised the evolution of blended learning to encompass AI-enabled and data analytics-assisted methodologies. His address to the educators painted a picture of a future where personalised learning experiences are the norm, supported by AI’s capacity to enhance teaching practices through deep insights from learning analytics. “Collaboration between CEMCA and NSOU sets a precedent for how open universities can adapt to and thrive in the rapidly changing landscape of global education,” he said.

A baseline survey was undertaken in advance of the event on the participants’ prior knowledge of blended learning.  This enabled the sessions to be tailored to their specific needs, setting the stage for an enhanced and targeted learning experience.